15 – Master’s Test

Prateek stormed out of his father's office, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge and justice. He had to find a way to track down Marcus Grey, the man responsible for his mother's enslavement.

"Butler!" Prateek called out, his voice echoing through the empty corridor.

A moment later, a short, rotund man appeared at the end of the hallway, bowing low as he approached. "Yes, sir?" the butler, whose name was William, asked in a deferential tone.

"I need you to find a list of all the individuals who have had contact with Marcus Grey," Prateek commanded. "I want to know everything there is to know about him. His allies, his enemies, his whereabouts. Everything."

"Of course, sir," William replied, his face impassive. "I will do my best to gather all the information you require."

As William hurried off to complete his task, Prateek paced back and forth, his thoughts consumed by the task at hand. He knew he would need to be stronger to take on Marcus, and he wondered who could help him achieve that.

With a sudden burst of determination, Prateek turned on his heel and strode out of the mansion, his mind set on finding the person who could help him reach his full potential. He had a feeling he knew just the person to turn to.

---

Prateek stormed onto the training field, his fists clenched in determination. He had spent the past few days locked in his room, poring over the documents his father had given him, trying to make sense of the complex web of deceit and betrayal that had led to his mother's enslavement.

As he approached Master Lee, the martial arts master gave him a wary look. "What brings you here, Prateek?" he asked, his voice laced with caution.

"I need your help," Prateek said, his voice rough with emotion. "I know who is responsible for my mother's enslavement. His name is Marcus Grey, and I intend to bring him to justice."

Master Lee's eyes narrowed. "You think you can take on Marcus Grey, a man who has defeated many skilled warriors before you?" he asked skeptically.

"I have to try," Prateek replied firmly. "I can't just sit back and do nothing. I have to do everything in my power to avenge my mother and protect my loved ones."

Master Lee sighed, his expression softening slightly. "I understand your desire for justice, Prateek. But you must also understand that it is not easy to defeat a man like Marcus Grey. You need to be at the top of your game, both physically and mentally."

"I know," Prateek said. "That's why I need your help. I need to get stronger, and I need to learn the skills and techniques that will give me an edge in battle."

Master Lee hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Very well," he said. "I will help you, but on one condition. You must pass a test that I will give you in a couple of weeks. If you pass, then I will train you. If you fail, then you must give up this pursuit of justice."

Prateek nodded, a fierce determination in his eyes. "I accept your challenge," he said. "I will do whatever it takes to become the strongest warrior I can be and bring Marcus Grey to justice."

Master Lee nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Very well," he said. "Then let's begin your training. We have a lot of work to do."

---

For the past two weeks, Prateek had been pushing himself to the limit in his training with Master Lee. He ran sprints until his legs felt like lead, lifted heavy weights until his arms shook with exhaustion, and practiced his sword fighting skills until his muscles ached.

He was determined to be ready for the test that Master Lee had set for him, and he was willing to do whatever it took to become the strongest warrior he could be.

As he pounded across the training field, his breath coming in ragged gasps, Prateek could feel the sweat dripping down his forehead and the burn in his muscles. But he refused to slow down, pushing himself harder and harder with each passing day.

Master Lee watched with a critical eye, pushing Prateek to his limits and beyond. "Come on, Prateek!" he shouted, his voice ringing across the field. "You have to give it everything you've got if you want to pass this test!"

Prateek gritted his teeth and redoubled his efforts, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that Master Lee was right. This was not just a test of his physical strength, but of his mental fortitude and determination.

As the days passed and Prateek's training intensified, he could feel himself getting stronger and more skilled. His swordsmanship improved, his muscles grew more defined, and his confidence grew.

But he also knew that there was still much work to be done. The test was fast approaching, and he had to be ready for whatever challenges Master Lee would throw his way.

With renewed determination, Prateek pushed himself harder than ever, his mind focused on the task at hand. He knew that the road ahead would not be easy, but he was ready to face any challenge that came his way.

---

Prateek paced nervously around his bedroom, his mind racing with anticipation. Today was the day of the test, and he was determined to pass it with flying colors. He had been training tirelessly with Master Lee for the past couple of weeks, pushing himself to his limits and beyond.

Just as he was about to head out the door, there was a knock at his bedroom door. Prateek hesitated for a moment, then called out, "Come in."

The door opened, and in stepped Butler William, a man who had been in the Osborne household for as long as Prateek could remember. The butler was holding a thick folder in his hands, and he approached Prateek with a solemn expression on his face.

"I have brought the list you requested, sir," he said, holding out the folder.

Prateek took the folder from the butler, his heart racing with excitement. He had asked for a list of individuals who might be able to help him in his quest for justice, and now he was finally going to see if his hunch was right.

He quickly flipped through the list, his eyes scanning the names and titles. Some of the people were familiar, while others were complete strangers to him. But all of them had a reputation for being skilled warriors or powerful sorcerers, and Prateek knew that they could be valuable allies in his quest.

"Thank you, William," Prateek said, handing the butler a small monetary reward. "I'll keep this safe and take a closer look later. Right now, I have to focus on the test."

Butler William nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I understand, sir," he said. "I hope you pass the test with flying colors. Then perhaps you can meet with some of the people on this list and see if they can be of assistance."

"I'll do my best," Prateek said, determination in his voice. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go. I don't want to be late for the test."

Butler William nodded and stepped aside, allowing Prateek to pass. As Prateek left the room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness coursing through his veins. He knew that the test was going to be tough, but he was ready for the challenge. He just hoped that it would be enough to help him achieve his goal.